Three local hospitality students will put their culinary and restaurant service skills to the test next month as they battle it out in an elite national culinary competition.
Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology culinary arts students Mikael Aranga-Papuni, Bethaney Allen and Mikey Takiwa will compete against hospitality students from across the country to impress a panel of top industry judges at the prestigious Nestle Toque d'Or competition in Auckland on July 30.
The teams of three students must cook and serve, within an allotted timeframe, six covers of a three-course meal that they have developed themselves. At the same time, their performance is marked by the judges using WorldChefs International Judging Standards.
The trio said they were excited and nervous for the competition and were looking forward to reaping the rewards of taking part in such a highly esteemed contest.
"For me it's about the opportunities that come from taking part in the competition, I hope my involvement in it will take me further in my career," Mr Takiwa said.